8 Hunterball
An individual elimination combat sport. First played by SETI students, it was concepted as an attempt to replicate the “snitch” from Harry Potter. The rules are to hit the the other players with the “Hunter,” a small, flying, limited AI ball that tries to attack each of the players, choosing targets based on likelihood of success. The hunter can be hit with physical tools but is also programmed to be deflected by holograms. There can be anywhere from 2-7 players, for >7 another “hunter” is added. Usually played outdoors, even higher intensity versions are played in courts similar to racquetball.
9 Hoverhoop
A levitating hula hoop. If imparted with enough initial velocity, miniaturized airfoils and microjets will keep the hoop afloat. Created by Rumiko Miyazaki of Japan, hoverhoops were first used by ravers seeking to evolve the LED flowarts by looking for new ways to push performance boundaries. While giving a hoop the ability to fly defeated the purpose of hooping, it was beautiful and became very popular post WW3.
10 Nano-cream
An experimental transdermal rapid healing gel created by Luna Peppercorn at the Kepler Institute. When the gel is applied to the skin, it begins repairing light to moderate tissue damage. Nano-cream is more versatile than a healing pack and runs off of human metabolic energy.
11 Euclid
A morphic drone pet; a protector, security, spy tool, and limited AI platform. Euclid, and other drone pets like it, are the merger of drone technology with AI advancement, aka, the “robot dog.” They are specifically modelled AI after nonhuman cognition to eliminate “skynet” possibilities. Commonly used recreationally, SETI students build their own, but morphic drone pets are used by the military and for protecting high level assets.
12 Jammer
An electromagnetic and sonic signal blocker first built by the Russian military. It is a surveillance countermeasure developed as a prototype to electro- magnetic cloaking. It is capable of blocking out any radio transmissions within its range. Later versions created a type of “static” that interferes with remote listening technology. Jammers were popular in the espionage battles between Russia and the United States in the 2060s
13 Magtape
Electronic device barrier used to create closed “circuits” that if tripped, zap the target with a small dose of electricity. Magtape is popular as a surveillance countermeasure against small drones. It collects power from static electricity and is commonly placed around doorways, window frames, air ducts, and utility lines. Once the tape has been activated, it needs to be replaced. Magtapes are perfect for disabling Crawlers, small insectoid looking spy drones. They were banned after WWIII because of the ethical danger of drone swarms; however, individual ones are still used.
14 Crawler
A small insectoid looking spy drone, perfect for fitting into small spaces and being unnoticed, the crawler is an inevitable result of technological improvement and miniaturization. Crawlers originate from drone bees used to replace decimated real populations before WW3. They were banned after because of the ethical danger of drone swarms; however, individual ones are still used.
15 Hyperion Loop
Underground high speed maglev train route in evacuated tubes, max speed is 6500 km/hr. It travels from Minneapolis to Quebec City, operated by the North American Migration Effort (NAME) . As the population of North America drastically shifted northward by the late 2050s to escape rising temperatures, the US and Canada created NAME to build a new mass transit system to support the growing northern metropolis. Work began in 2064 and completed in 2077.
Seven
K.I.N.G
Professor Hunt’s office was the structure atop a high ridge on the campus upslope looking down on the southwest foothills. Reaching it required climbing a seemingly infinite number of stairs, creating, for Isaac, a personal purgatory.
As he trudged along, the late afternoon light illuminated dust particles in the air. Finally nearing the entrance, he stopped to rest his leg. Below, panes of glass in stone buildings glimmered like gold. The campus green had quieted. The forest was a verdant sea. In a moment of self-awareness, he realized the mountain palace made for an optimal life.
He took the cryptocube1 and pressed a sequence of glyphs on its six sides. With a click, it opened revealing an air-gapped computer, its drive, with tesseract compression, an imbedded holoprojector and a lithium-ion power core. Isaac built it himself, even the native programming language was his.
It provided the security necessary at Kepler. Each iteration of the password was created by an independent numerical linkage to a progressive rotating code, which, in turn was based on an algorithm only the owner knew. More than two incorrect attempts, or for that matter, any sort of tampering fused the box and instantly melted the contents.
With a few taps, a hologram of his space elevator appeared. He reviewed the vibrational math to make sure he’d ask the right questions. If a 36,000-kilometer-long harp string could hit resonance, there wasn’t really a point, was there?
Completing his calculations, he continued toward a building that was half-window, half in the rock. At the final landing he heard Professor Hunt speaking with someone else. He paused outside the closed office to listen.
“I did the math; I know none of it was your fault, and I agree with all you’re saying, but have you considered the risk, not just to yourself, but to future attempts at expansion?”
“If there are any. Why does everyone think that because we survived three world wars, we’ve become so enlightened that we’re somehow above annihilating the planet? Exploration is one of the few human characteristics we can take pride in, and it needs to start now.”
It was his father. Here. Isaac could hear the blood pounding in his ears.
“How was Angelika’s?”
“Snowy.”
“Seriously?”
“We talked it through. We’re good.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that. Well, and she’s providing the money for the ship you’re going to build, and she admitted she was funding CORE, which I already knew.”
“Wait. She was doing what?! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Didn’t seem relevant until now.”
“I’ll give you a moment to think about how illogical that sounds.”
After a clink of glasses, his father continued. “Will, if you’re so certain expansion will have a future, why does Kepler still maintain a bomb shelter?”
Rather than answer, Professor Hunt asked his own question. “Why does it have to be you? I get that you want to be out there, but it’s dangerously narcissistic. Did the Victoria’s shipwright hop aboard with Magellan?”
“I don’t know, but whose name do you remember? All I am asking is that the three of us sit down and discuss it. When was the last time you saw Angelika, anyway?”
“Last year. Stockholm. And don’t change the subject. You have to stay here for your family, for Isaac. How are you planning to tell him?”
“About this or the other thing?”
“Both. Either.”
“I… I’m not sure yet.”
“Well, you’d better figure it out. More than likely he’s been right outside listening for the last two, three minutes.”
The game up, Isaac came in. Going from lamenting his father’s absence to having him standing there as if teleported was jarring, to say the least.
Warm sunlight streaming in from a semi-circle of windows framed both men. The inside wall was one enormous curved chalkboard. Befitting the mind it housed, every aspect of the room, every edge, curve, line conformed to a mathematical equation. Each cycle, Hunt issued the same challenge. “If you can solve the overarching equation for my office, you can add a desk for yourself.”
So far, his was the only desk.
Capitalizing on the shock in both father and son, Professor Hunt coyly said “Well, Hue?”
Bernard put down his scotch. “Isaac. How are you?”
“What… what are you doing here?”
“I’m discussing a proposal with the esteemed Professor Hunt.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“You know better than I how people here think of me. I didn’t want to complicate things for you. For that matter, though…” He turned to Hunt. “…why didn’t you tell me Isaac had an appointment?”
The professor gave them a warm smile. “Must have slipped my mind. Since we’re here, let’s all sit, shall we?” He gestured to the two chairs in front of his desk.
As he complied, Bernard spoke to his son. “Professor Hunt tells me you’re working on a seamless carbon fiber print method.”
“Pivot!” Hunt called as if he were a moderator.
Bernard shot him a sour look, but, Isaac, not ready to engage the far heavier topic, answered. “Yeah dad. It’s for the Explorers’ Cup.”
“Fantastic. I’m only sorry that sharing my name will make it more difficult for you. Isaac… what the devil happened to your face?”
Isaac turned a bit red. “Discblade.”
Professor Hunt raised an eyebrow.
Stuck between discussing a rock or a hard place, Isaac said, “Dad, you were talking about space exploration and a crew. Are you going somewhere?”
Bernard gave Hunt another steely glance. His answering look said, “You’re on your own.”
Cornered, he faced his son. “Isaac, I’m gathering a crew of 12, including Professor Hunt and myself, to reach Voyager 2’s last known location beyond Kuiper. It’ll be 2.3 years each way, roughly 5 years total.”
After what seemed an eternity of silence, Isaac tilted his head thoughtfully. “But the fusion drive test failed. Was it on purpose? You built another in secret?”
The speed of the deduction startled Bernard as much as the fact of it. His son’s acumen made him proud and to be completely honest, a little afraid. “Yes. Well… now you know why I haven’t been around much.”
Isaac sank into his chair. “Whooooooooah.”
Interplanetary travel was not only feasible, it was easy. This was…everything.
Bernard leaned in. “You know I didn’t cause the explosion at CERN, yes?”
Offended, Isaac grimaced. “Of course.”
“Then you understand what that means, that there’s something out there.”
Isaac’s brow crunched warily. “I do.”
“The only way I can free our family is by finding it. I have to go, for that, and to be part of what comes next.” Fire gleamed in his father’s eyes. “Even if I can’t clear my name, OUR name, I can still lay down an olive branch to my enemies and say I did my part to further our species.”
Numbed by the neutron-star weight of the subject, Isaac felt detached and resentful. “If this is the part where you tell me you’ll stay if I ask...you know I won’t. Besides, what I think won’t change a thing. You’ve already decided just like you did at our first family dinner-and-a-movie when you asked my opinion, then showed Interstellar anyway.”
Hunt drew a sharp breath. “Your father has already sacrificed a lot, and he’s planning to sacrifice even more. You should show…”
“It’s fine.” Bernard waved him off. “Isaac, I deserve that, because you’re right. I am going, no matter what. I feel…” He hesitated, afraid to be vulnerable, afraid to use a highly unscientific term. “I feel destiny calling.”
Destiny? No idea how to respond, Isaac turned away and found himself facing his teacher. “So, are you going, too?”
Hunt didn’t answer immediately. “Let me show you something. Computer…darken windows and open the most recent Voyager calculations.”
Polarizing filters made it seem like nightfall. Projectors hummed filling the office with a giant hologram of equations and proofs superimposed on the solar system. “It’s a set of probability calculations comparing Voyager’s signal loss with CERN’s destruction. I’ve been working on it for your father. Coupled with several anomalous readings we picked up from the old SETI2 array, I deduced this.”
The conclusion of a wildly lengthy equation grew: Omega = .99999
Isaac glanced at the number, then back to his teacher.
“It means the chance of those events being coincidental is so astronomically low, it makes getting a perfect bracket seem downright probable. Sure, I believe in your father, but I believe in math even more. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll go, but someone has to convince the other recruits. Social grace has never been his strong suit.”
“Yep,” Isaac agreed.
Bernard managed an eye-roll.
“Dad… when do you leave?”
“There’ll be a window in just under two years that will allow for maximal planetary alignment. It means I’ll miss graduation…”
Seeing his genuine disappointment, Isaac stood and hugged his father. “You’ll have plenty of time to send a message back telling the world we’re not alone before I walk across the stage. I can’t imagine a better graduation gift.”
Unable to remember how long it had been since he embraced his son, Bernard let tears flow. “I love you. I’ll make you proud.”
“I know, dad. You already do.”
Pulling out of the hug, Isaac found himself distracted by a cube-shaped object in his father’s pocket. Did it have something to do with the other thing his father mentioned.
Wiping his eyes, Bernard turned to Hunt. “Dinner?”
“Fine,” he grunted. “For old-time’s sake.”
His father polished off his scotch, shook William Hunt’s hand, and made for the door. He was at the threshold when Isaac asked, “Dad, how did you sneak onto campus? There’s bugs and drones everywhere.”
Bernard smiled. “Son, you’re looking at the only man ever voted K.I.N.G.3 (Kepler’s Innovative Nanotech Genius) for eight cycles straight. No one, not even dear William or Angelika, can say that. It’s a title that comes with its fair share of secrets.”
With that, he was gone, ending a reunion so brief it seemed surreal.
“Well,” Hunt said, “that was a bit more interesting than our usual meeting, eh?”
Isaac blinked. “Do we still have time to go over my numbers?”
“Seeing as how I freed some extra time, certainly. What have you got?”
Isaac opened his cryptocube and placed the drive on the professor’s interface pad. The voyager equations vanished, replaced by a pink lattice woven from flowing, organic strands. With a hand wave, Hunt zoomed out to a planetary view. What first appeared large and natural, receded to a narrow structure. Its length grew rapidly, simulating the space elevator’s rise from Earth’s equator to an asteroid in geostationary orbit.
Hunt’s eyes darted about, taking in all the display data. In less than a minute, he pulled the drive and handed it back to Isaac. “I have good news and bad news.”
Isaac gulped.
“The good news is, all your math checks out. Procuring the resources could be tricky, but not impossible, or even particularly outlandish.”
Isaac breathed.
“The bad news is that the project has to be put on hold.”
What? Big day for emotional shifts. In less than half a minute, he’d been afraid, relieved, and crestfallen. “But why?”
Hunt smiled. “Because I need your help to design your father’s ship.”
That did it. Isaac felt his mind leave his body, lost in a sea of dreams. Even when able to speak again, all he could say was, “What?”
“Yeah, your dad forgot to mention that.” Hunt laughed.
His father wasn’t just here to recruit his friend; Isaac was being recruited, too.
“Uh… when do we start, sir?”
“We already have.” He opened a large desk drawer and took out… what? Not a cryptocube, but—could it be? Isaac howled in wild jubilation.
“Is that a-a-a, Nano-matrix vortex holocube?! NanoCubes4 are barely theoretical. No one can crack the math… supposedly.”
Hunt grew somber. “Isaac, whate
ver you see here, whatever we do, whatever we create cannot leave this office. It’s not only that our work isn’t school-sanctioned, but it will be extremely dangerous—to our species—if the wrong people find out about it.”
Isaac nodded, but he was still staring at the NanoCube.
Hunt sighed. “Okay, I know you have lots of questions, but for now, I’ll just say that when we were students, your father and I did crack the math, but we also realized the danger of mass-producing. Only ten exist, and I keep a very close eye on all of them.”
With a wave, the cube projected blueprints for a manned interplanetary vessel. “This is my design, dubbed The Dreamcatcher, actually based on something you wrote.”
“Me?”
Hunt seemed surprise by Isaac’s reaction. “Yes. Hasn’t your father ever told you? The equations you wrote when you were ten, on weaving magnetic field lines, formed the basis for his fusion drive.”
Isaac knew he was smart; it ran in the family, but he was momentarily at a loss for words. “This is why you’ve given me so much attention? Because of what I did six years ago?”
“Isaac, listen carefully. I can solve any mathematical problem on the planet. Heh, this planet being key, given our goals. That said, I’ve never seen anything close to your ability to translate theoretical math into practical design. I mean, look at your space elevator. Even incomplete, it’s astounding. When you were younger, we worried how that might affect you, how it might affect the world. But if we’re to reach beyond Kuiper, we have to tap your full potential and accept any risks that come with it.”
What potential was he talking about? What did he mean by risks?
William’s words, were presented cheerily, but indicated the subject was closed. “Let’s move onto the fun stuff, shall we? Let me show you how to use the NanoCube to work on The Dreamcatcher’s latest schematics.”
Hungry as he was for more, Isaac wasn’t about to do anything to risk his new, amazing role. Besides, the NanoCube was fascinating all on its own.
Beyond Kuiper: The Galactic Star Alliance Page 10
